(Spirit Lake)– Lakes area law enforcement agencies spent the better part of the day today (Wed.) chasing a suspect wanted for stealing and vandalizing vehicles and breaking into atleast one residence.
Dickinson County Sheriff Greg Baloun says it all started around 11:30 this (Wednesday) morning in Jackson. Baloun says the 17-year-old male suspect attempted to use a credit card to make some purchases. The card was denied and the teen took off…with the business owner in pursuit. The man who was chasing the suspect got on a cell phone and notified authorities. The pursuit continued south into Dickinson county through Orleans where a deputy lost the suspect. The suspect parked the van he was driving, which had been reported stolen out of Minnesota, and walked to the Lance Tungland residence. Baloun says the suspect broke into the residence and stole a pickup…going westbound. Baloun says Tungland managed to catch up with the suspect at Vick’s Corner and there was apparently a confrontation. The teen then took off on foot and was believed to have been in the Triboji Beach area…where an intensive search went on for most of the afternoon. At about 4:30 p.m., Baloun says they received a report the suspect was at the Northland Inn at the junction of Highways nine and 86. Upon arrival of officers, Baloun says the suspect took off westbound on Highway nine in a red pickup owned by the Northland Inn. Officers finally managed to stop the vehicle in front of the Dickinson County Veterinary Clinic where the suspect was taken into custody.
Baloun says the 17-year-old male, who’s name wasn’t released, had gotten away from a juvenile detention facility. Baloun says he was supposed to be sentenced yesterday on assault and terroristic threat charges.
Now, Baloun says numerous charges are pending against the suspect in Dickinson county. They include burglary, two counts of theft of motor vehicles, and the possibility of more burglary charges if it’s determined he broke into homes in the Triboji Beach area.
Baloun says about 15 officers were involved in the pursuit…including seven or eight members of the Iowa State Patrol tactical team who were in the area today for a training program.
